Structural arrangement applied to a bottle cap

ABSTRACT

The present utility model related to a structural arrangement applied to a bottle cap, belonging to the technical sector of general packaging accessories, and specifically to a cap for bottles containing beverages, such as beer, water, soft drinks or any other beverage that is packaged in a bottle, that provides very advantageous practical, safe and functional results. The present utility model patent comprises a metal cap (1) provided with an L-shaped lever/handle (2) in which the smaller segment (21) and the extremity of the larger segment (22), which is close to the vertex, are attached to the upper face and to the peripheral wall of the cap (1) by welding, gluing, pinning or any other attachment means, the lightly grooved vertical larger segment (22) forming the “handle” having a ring-pull (23) at the extremity of same. Optionally, according to FIGS. 1.6 and 1.8, the extremity of the larger segment (22), which is close to the vertex, is formed around the peripheral wall of the cap (1), forming a corrugated area with the same “relief/molded” system present in the cap (24).

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present Utility Model Patent is directed to a structural arrangementapplied to a bottle cap, pertaining to the technical sector of packagingaccessories in general, more particularly a cap for bottles ofbeverages, such as beer, water and soft drink or any other beverage thatuses the bottle as a packing container, through which advantageouspractical, safe and functional results are attained.

STATE OF THE ART

In accordance with to www.papodebar com, in the 1880′s, carbonatedbeverages started to become quite popular in bars, but it was quitecomplicated to take them home. Generally, the bottles have been sealedwith corks or ceramic, wood and metal caps, but they could not retainthe carbonic gas efficiently. Still worse, in the event they contactedthe liquid, it could become toxic. Until William Painter solved theproblem by inventing in 1891, the crown cap provided with a cork diskinside same that prevented the beverage from contacting the metal(plastics are used nowadays for such purpose). The cap, with itscorrugated edge, was the perfect solution for sealing, without any leak,the bottles containing carbonated liquids. After inventing the crown capin 1894, William Painter invented its faithful partner the can opener.

The crown cap has been used for a long time in the company of theindispensable can opener, until the advent of the so-called “long neck”disposable beer bottles, the traditional caps have been replaced by thenew caps that can be threaded to the mouths of the bottles, thuseliminating the need to use the can opener. However, in addition to theregular bottles that kept on using the traditional cap a new ecologicalappeal is paving the way to new returnable beer bottles and the old softdrink bottles, that use old caps and the indispensable can opener, whichis many times inconvenient when using such containers.

Thus, in order to extend the use of disposable container, without theinconvenience of carrying a can opener, the present invention hasdeveloped a structural arrangement of a bottle cap and its constructivevariants, thus making it possible to open bottles having a cap providedwith a lever that allows same to be opened.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present utility model patent will be better understood through thedescription of the figures that represent schematically:

FIG. 1.1: a perspective view of the new structural arrangement appliedto a bottle cap;

FIG. 1.2: a perspective view showing the bottle cap closed;

FIG. 1.3: a perspective view showing the bottle cap partially opened;

FIG. 1.4: a perspective view showing the bottle cap almost fully opened;

FIG. 1.5: a perspective view showing the bottle cap fully opened;

FIG. 1.6: a perspective view showing the bottle cap closed, with thelever following the undulation of the edge;

FIG. 1.7: a perspective view showing the bottle cap partially opened,with the lever following the undulation of the edge;

FIG. 1.8: a perspective view showing the bottle cap fully opened, withthe lever following the undulation of the edge;

FIG. 2.1: a perspective view of a first constructive variant of thebottle cap, with the lever at angles;

FIG. 2.2: a side view of a first constructive variant of the bottle cap,with the lever at angles;

FIG. 3.1: a front view of a second constructive variant of the cap madeas a single body;

FIG. 3.2: a perspective view showing the cap made as a single body in anopened state;

FIG. 3.3: a perspective view of the cap made as a single body in aclosed state;

FIG. 3.4: a perspective view of the cap made as a single body in apartially opened state;

FIG. 3.5: perspective view of the cap made in a single body in a fullyopened state;

FIG. 4.1: a perspective view showing a third constructive variant of thebottle cap closed, with the lever provided with a guillotine typeperforator;

FIG. 4.2: a perspective view showing a third constructive variant of thecap opened, with the lever provided with a guillotine type perforator;

FIG. 4.3: a perspective view showing a third constructive variant of thecap partially opened, with the lever provided with a guillotine typeperforator;

FIG. 4.4: a perspective view showing a third constructive variant of thecap fully opened, with the lever provided with a guillotine typeperforator, with the “tip/tooth” already inserted in the cap so that thecarbonic gas may escape, thus releasing the pressure that retains thecap;

FIG. 4.5: a side cut view showing a third constructive variant of thecap closed, with the lever provided with a guillotine type perforatorwith a “tip/tooth”;

FIG. 4.6: a side cut view showing a third constructive variant of thecap opened, with the lever provided with a guillotine type perforatorwith a “tip/tooth”;

FIG. 5.1: a front view of a fourth constructive variant of the bottlecap, with the lever provided with an internal hook;

FIG. 5.2: a side cut view showing a fourth constructive variant of thecap closed with the lever provided with an internal hook;

FIG. 5.3: a side cut view showing a fourth constructive variant of thecap opened with the lever provided with an internal, half hook;

FIG. 5.4: a front view of a fourth constructive variant of the cap withthe lever provided with an internal hook;

FIG. 5.5: a back view of a fourth constructive variant of the cap withthe lever provided with an internal hook;

FIG. 5.6: a perspective view showing a fourth constructive variant ofthe cap closed with the lever provided with an internal hook;

FIG. 5. 7: a perspective view showing a fourth constructive variant ofthe cap fully opened with the lever provided with an internal hook;

FIG. 6.1: a perspective view of a fifth constructive variant of thebottle cap made of a plastic material/polycarbonate/glass/fiber;

FIG. 6.2: a front view of a fifth constructive variant of the bottle capmade of a plastic material/polycarbonate/glass/fiber;

FIG. 6.3: a perspective view of a fifth constructive variant of thebottle cap made of a plastic material/polycarbonate/glass/fiber,stressing out the upper face;

FIG. 6.4: a side cut view of a fifth constructive variant of the bottlecap made of a plastic material/polycarbonate/glass/fiber;

FIG. 6.5: a perspective view of a fifth constructive variant of thebottle cap made of a plastic material/polycarbonate/glass/fiber in aclosed state;

FIG. 6.6: a perspective view of a fifth constructive variant of thebottle cap made of a plastic material/polycarbonate/glass/fiber in an edstate; FIG. 6.7: a perspective view of a fifth constructive variant ofthe bottle cap made of a plastic material/polycarbonate/glass/fiber in apartially opened state;

FIG. 6.8: a perspective view of a fifth constructive variant of thebottle cap made of a plastic material/polycarbonate/glass/fiber in afully opened state.

In accordance with FIGS. 1.1 to 1.8, the present utility model patentcomprises a metal cap (1), provided with an L-shaped lever/handle (2),whose smaller segment (21) and the end of the larger segment (22) areclose to the vertex, attached to the upper face and the peripheral wallof the cap (1) by weld, glue, pin or any other attachment means, saidlarger segment (22) being vertically positioned and slightly grooved forthe “handle” having a slit (23) at the end thereof. Optionally, inaccordance with FIGS. 1.6 and 1.8, the end of the larger segment (22),close to the vertex, is arranged following the peripheral wall of thecap (1), forming a corrugated region with the same relief/flange systemexisting in the cap (24).

In accordance with FIGS. 2.1 and 2.2, in a first constructive variant,the lever for the handle (2), can be arranged at angles, forming avertical segment (221) from the vertex that ends in an oblique segment(222) that, in turn, ends in a vertical segment (223).

In accordance with FIGS. 3.1 to 3.5, in a second constructive variant,the cap (1) and the lever (2) is made as a single body (12), said lever(2) extending from the edge of the peripheral wall of the cap (1).

In accordance with FIGS. 4.1 to 4.6, in a third constructive variant,the lever (2), is provided at the end of the smaller segment (21) withan inclination that forms a perforating “tip/tooth” (211), which, at thetime the cap (1) is opened, perforates the upper face thereof, releasingthe inner pressure and thus making it easy to release the respective cap(1) with the aid of the lever (2). See the perforating “tip/tooth”already inserted into the cap that removes the pressure/carbonic gas.

In accordance with FIGS. 5.1 and 5.7, in a fourth constructive variant,the lever/handle (2) is integral with the cap at the upper end thereofand provided with two hooks in the lower portion of the cap (25) at theedge of the bottle and on which the cap (1) is attached/fixed, said cap(1) being or not already attached to the lever (2). The function of thehooks (25) is to “force” and expel the bottle cap.

In accordance with FIGS. 6.1 to 6.8, in a fifth constructive variant,the cap (1) and the lever/handle (2) is made of plastic, polycarbonate,fiber/glass and molded in a single part, and said material may be opaqueor transparent.

With the structural arrangement applied to a bottle cap thus obtained,it offers the following advantages in relation to its equivalents knownso far:

-   -   it stimulates the use of returnable bottles without the need to        use the can opener;    -   an easy, practical and fast way to open the cap, mainly of the        so-called “long neck” disposable beer bottles;    -   more safety and speed since the lever is already in the correct        position of the “handle” aiming at the immediate opening;    -   it makes it possible to use recycled materials in the cap.

The scope of the present utility model patent demonstrates itsinnovation both in the national and international market, thus nothaving to be limited to the use of bottles, but also the terms definedin the claims and its several equivalents.

1-6. (canceled)
 7. A structural arrangement of a bottle cap, comprising:a metal cap; and a handle that functions as a lever, the handlecomprising: a smaller segment horizontally positioned and attached to anupper face of the metal cap; and a larger segment, vertically positionedand attached to a peripheral wall of the metal cap; and having a slit ata lower end, wherein the larger segment and the smaller segment define avertex.
 8. The structural arrangement of a bottle cap according to claim7, wherein an upper end of the larger segment follows a peripheral wallof the cap, forming a corrugated region having corrugations matchingthose of the cap.
 9. The structural arrangement of a bottle capaccording to claim 7, wherein the larger segment and the smaller segmentare attached to the metal cap by welding, glue or pin.
 10. Thestructural arrangement of a bottle cap according to claim 7, wherein thehandle is a L-shaped handle.
 11. The structural arrangement of a bottlecap according to claim 7, wherein the larger segment of the handle isarranged at angles, having a first vertical segment from the vertex, anoblique segment in sequence, and a second vertical segment in sequence.12. The structural arrangement of a bottle cap according to claim 7,wherein the handle having at an end of the smaller segment aninclination forming a perforating tip, wherein when the lever is pulled,the tip perforates an upper face of the cap, releasing inner pressure ofthe bottle.
 13. A structural arrangement of a bottle cap, comprising: acap; and a handle that functions as a lever, the cap and the handle madeas a single integral body, with the handle extending from an edge of aperipheral wall of the cap and having a slit at a lower end; the handlearranged at angles, having a first vertical segment adjacent to the edgeof the peripheral wall of the cap, an oblique segment in sequence, and asecond vertical segment in sequence.
 14. The structural arrangement of abottle cap according to claim 13, wherein the handle is integral withthe cap at an upper end of the cap, the handle further comprising twohooks at an upper end of the first vertical segment, the hooks alsoattached to a lower portion of the cap at an edge of a bottle, whereinthe hooks serve to force and expel the bottle cap when the handle ispulled.
 15. The structural arrangement of a bottle cap according toclaim 13, wherein the cap and the handle are molded in a single part andmade of plastic, polycarbonate or fiber/glass material, and wherein thematerial is opaque or transparent.